Non-detachable easy opening container

ABSTRACT

An easy opening container including a can body and an end closure. The end closure is provided with a tear portion defined by a score line terminating in spaced ends. An opening tab is attached to the tear portion and is provided with a rigid nose complementary to the contour of the score line for depressing the tear portion inwardly to provide a pour opening. The opening tab is arranged for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane between a position in which the nose is out of alignment with the score line to prevent inadvertant opening and a position in which the nose is in alignment with the score line for opening the container.

United States Patent [191 Hougen et al.

. 11] 3,826,402 July '30, 1974 NON-DETACHABLE EASY OPENING CONTAINER [75] Inventors: Gary A. Hougen, Palatine; Henry F.

Kloc, Plainfield, both of ill. [73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 277,722

52 us. Cl. 220/48, 220/54 [51] Int. Cl B65d 17/00 [58] Field of Search 220/48, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,232,474 2/1966 Dunn 20/48 x 3,34|.055 9/]967 Radford 220/48 3,744,666 7/I973 Heffncr 220/48 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn J. Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittman [5 7] ABSTRACT vent inadvertant opening and a position in which the nose is in alignment with the score line for opening the container.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 NON-DETACI-IABLE EASY OPENING CONTAINER SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to easy opening containers and more particularly to an improved easy opening container having an end panel provided with a tear portion and a pull tab for separating the tear portion from the panel to form a pour opening.

Currently, easy opening containers, those used to package beverages, are of the type having a tear portion and a pull tab attached thereto so as to be completely detachable from the container. The detached tear portion and pull tab are discarded after the pour opening is formed and when not placed in a trash receptacle increases the litter problem.

By the present invention, it is proposed to provide an improved easy opening container wherein the tear portion and an opening tab remain attached to the container for disposal therewith after separation of the tear portion to form the pour opening.

The improved easy opening container comprises generally a container body having an end closure including a tear or removable panel portion defined by a score line terrninatingin spaced ends. An opening tab is attached to the tear portion for severing the length of the score line and depressing the tear portion into the container body to provide a pour opening. The opening tab is pivotly mounted on the panel for movement in a generally horizontal plane between a position out of alignment with the score line to prevent inadvertant severance thereof and a position in alignment therewith so as to be able to sever the score line upon upward tilting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container embodying the easy opening end closure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the pull tab in operative position in alignment with the score line for opening the container.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container showing the tear portion and the opening tab in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 and showing in particular the open condition of the container.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a container showing a second embodiment of the invention with the opening tab shown in the non-opening position.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the opening tab in position for opening the container.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container showing the opening tab in the open position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in particular FIGS. 1-4, there is shown an easy opening container 10 having an end closure 11 in which the easy opening arrangement 12 of the present invention is incorporated. The container 10 includes a body 13 to which the end closure 11 may be double seamed in the conventional manner.

The end closure 11 includes an upstanding chuck wall 14a about the peripheral edge of a central panel 14. A tear portion 15 defined by a score line 16 is formed in the panel 14. The score line 16 may be of somewhat V-shapeconfiguration having a vertex 17 disposed adjacent to the chuck wall 14a and terminal ends 18-18 located along the line passing approximately through the center of the panel 14.

An opening tab 19 is attached to the panel 14 as by means of a rivet 21 which may be formed integral with the panel 14in a moreorless conventional manner. The opening tab 19 is formed from sheet metal and includes an opening end 22 contoured generally similar to the score line 16 and terminates in a nose 23 adapted to be positioned over the vertex 17 of the score line 16. The opening tab 19 is provided with ribs and hems which rigidify the tab so that it is capable of serving as a lever. At the other end, the opening tab 19 is formed with a ring or finger grip portion 24 by which the tab 19 is gripped. The ring portion 24 includes a finger opening 26 through which the forefinger of the user may be inserted during opening of the container.

In its non-use or non-opening position, the opening tab 19 is disposed so that the opening end 22 extends across the V-shaped configuration of the score line 16 as shown for example in FIG. 1. To retain the opening tab in this non-opening position, a detent 27 is formed in the end panel 14. The detent 27 is located to abut the outer edge of the finger grip portion or ring 24 as shown in FIG. 1 so as to prevent turning of the tab 19 to a position in which the nose 23 is aligned with the vertex 17 of the score line 16.

When it is desired'to open the container, the tab 19 is lifted upwardly sufficiently to clear the detent 27 and is rotated about the rivet 21' to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the tab 19 engages the detent 27 along the periphery of the finger opening 26 and a second detent 28 engages the outer periphery of the ring portion 24. The detents 27 and 28 are located to align the tab nose 23 with the vertex 17 of the score line 16.

To open the container, the tab 19 is lifted upwardly whereupon the lever action of the tab 19 is operative to initially sever the score line 16 at the vertex 17. Further upward tilting of the tab 19 causes the tear portion 15 defined by the score line 16 to bend into the container as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to provide a pour opening 30. The contents of the container may then be emptied through the pour opening 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8 inclusive, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention. The easy opening arrangement is substantially identical to that shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 14, differing therefrom primarily in the contour of the tear portion and the tab. The container includes an end panel 114 having a tear portion 115 of generally W- shaped contour defined by the rivet 21 as shown in FIGS. 5-8. The tear portion 115 when separated from the panel 114 provides a pour opening having two' spaced pour areas or spouts 130a and 130b. The score line 116 terminates in terminal ends 118 spaced from each other adjacent the center of the panel 114.

The tab 119 includes a forward end terminating in spaced nose portions 123. The pull tab also includes the finger grip portion 24 having the finger opening 26.

The tab 119 is normally turned about the rivet 21 so that the nose portions 123 thereof are not in alignment withthe score line 116 for puncturing or severing the same. The detent 27 located in the panel 114 engages the outer periphery of the finger grip portion 24 and restrains the tab 119 against rotation into a position in alignment with the score line 116.

To align the tab 119, the latter is lifted upwardly over the detent 27 such that the detent 27 rests against the inner periphery of the finger opening 26 and the outer edge engages the second detent 28 as shown in FIG. 2.

Opening of the container is accomplished in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 of the first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tab 119 is merely lifted upwardly so spaced terminal ends, an opening tab, means fastening said opening tab to said panel for turning movement in -a substantially horizontal plane and for tilting movement in a vertical plane, said tab having a nose on one end for severing said score line to separate said tear portion from said panel upon tilting said tab to provide a pour opening in said panel, a finger grip portion having a finger opening on the opposite end of said tab, and first detent means on said panel engageable with said finger portion along one side thereof for positioning and maintaining said tab with said nose out of alignment with said score line so that upward tilting of said pull tab does not sever said score line, and second detent means engageable with said finger grip portion along the opposite side of said finger grip portion upon moving of said tab out of engagement with said first detent means along said one side to align said tab with said score so that upward tilting severs said score line and separates said tear portion from said panel to provide a pour opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first detent means is also in engagement with said finger grip portion when said second detent means is in engagement therewith.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said first detent means is in engagement with the inner periphery of said finger opening when said second detent means is in engagement with said finger grip portion.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said score line is of substantially a V-shape to define a V- shaped tear portion.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said nose is shaped complementary to said score line.

6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said score line is contoured so as to define a W-shaped tear portion.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said nose is shaped complementary to said score line. 

1. An easy opening container comprising a can body and an end closure, said end closure having a panel including a tear portion defined by a score line having spaced terminal ends, an opening tab, means fastening said opening tab to said panel for turning movement in a substantially horizontal plane and for tilting movement in a vertical plane, said tab having a nose on one end for severing said score line to separate said tear portion from said panel upon tilting said tab to provide a pour opening in said panel, a finger grip portion having a finger opening on the opposite end of said tab, and first detent means on said panel engageable with said finger portion along one side thereof for positioning and maintaining said tab with said nose out of alignment with said score line so that upward tilting of said pull tab does not sever said score line, and second detent means engageable with said finger grip portion along the opposite side of said finger grip portion upon moving of said tab out of engagement with said first detent means along said one side to align said tab with said score so that upward tilting severs said score line and separates said tear portion from said panel to provide a pour opening.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first detent means is also in engagement with said finger grip portion when said second detent means is in engagement therewith.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said first detent means is in engagement with the inner periphery of said finger opening when said second detent means is in engagement with said finger grip portion.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said score line is of substantially a V-shape to define a V-shaped tear portion.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said nose is shaped complementary to said score line.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said score line is contoured so as to define a W-shaped tear portion.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said nose is shaped complementary to said score line. 